2007-04-04 02:49:39 · 14 answers · asked by Addicted To Abercrombie & Fitch 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
It is a contraction of "you all." "You" is naturally a pronoun, and "all" is a pronoun serving as an adjective in that it modifies, or rather, clarifies the meaning and scope of "you," since the word, "you," can refer either to an individual or a group.
"Y'all" is also rather colloquial. Its use is most common in southern regions (Oklahoma, Texas, and further east), though not completely restricted to them.
(As a long-time resident of Oklahoma, and a current resident of Alabama, I am rather familiar with this particular term.)
2007-04-04 03:10:24 · answer #1 · answered by PCGuyIV 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a contraction that is used as a pronoun phrase -- you all. It is used often as the subject of a sentence.
"Y'all" is not ghetto -- it has its roots in the south. Southerners know that black and white people use the term equally in the south. It's just that there was a great migration of African Americans from the south to the north in the 1950's and many parts of the southern dialect migrated with them. Y'all is one such word.
It is a warm and fuzzy word that has a friendly connotation not found in the "standard" counterpart, you. Remember, you can be both singular and plural. Picture this:
1. "You come over for dessert, okay?"
2. "Y'all come over for dessert, okay?"
Which has the friendlier feel? Number 2, right? That's why you hear about southern hospitality, often through the feelings that come from southern dialect.
So, you have your answer and the background :)
2007-04-04 10:01:29 · answer #2 · answered by Wondering 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's a pronoun- the plural form of you.
Actually, just about every other language than english has a word for the plural "you". So in a sense, y'all is completely legit. We southerners are just too sophisticated for y'all :-)
2007-04-04 13:00:28 · answer #3 · answered by rosiecotton19 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is a contraction of the words You All, first heard in the mountains of West Virginia in 1888.
West Virgina is now a sophisticated state and no one uses this term any more, although there are still pockets of indigenous people in some of the remote valleys who don't even have telephone service.
They have, however, gone high tech in these areas, with the addition of "Holler Waiting".
2007-04-04 10:00:17 · answer #4 · answered by bobsimpson1947 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's a pronoun in the sentence, "Y'all come back soon, okay?" or "How are y'all doing today?
While technically it is a contraction for "you + all," it is really used instead of the subject pronoun "you" in my sentences. It can also be used instead of the object pronoun "you."
"I'll see y'all tomorrow."
2007-04-04 10:09:57 · answer #5 · answered by dirty t 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First off to young one...it's not "ghetto" language, everyone uses "yall" every now and then, preferably people out in the country, not "ghetto" people, i don't know who your trying to stereotype.
anyone....it's a pronoun i believe =]
2007-04-04 09:58:42 · answer #6 · answered by Angel*Eyesz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the two words "you all." Being ghetto has nothing to do with using it either. Anyone uses it, but it's closer to people from the south.
2007-04-04 09:58:26 · answer #7 · answered by Kendra 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a pronoun since it can replace another noun or pronoun, but also since it is a combination of you (subjective personal pronoun) and all (indefinite pronoun)... It's a combination, so it's either a subjective personal indefinate pronoun (?) or simply a pronoun.
2007-04-04 10:00:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
it's in english, short form for "you all".
2007-04-04 10:30:33 · answer #9 · answered by K@rmun 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
really its using slang thats if ur ghetto
2007-04-04 09:53:33 · answer #10 · answered by young 1 out tha 4 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋